Former India captain Sourav Ganguly officially took charge as the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday.
After formally taking over as the new boss at the apex body’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mumbai, Ganguly said that Virat Kohli is the most important man in the Indian cricket, adding that he will speak with him and support in every possible manner.
“I will speak to him tomorrow. He is the most important man in Indian cricket as captain of India. I look it at that way. So we will have a word with him and as I said we will support him in every possible way, he wants to make this team the best in the world,” Ganguly said.
Under Kohli’s captaincy, India recently registered its 11th consecutive Test series win at home, beating South Africa 3-0 in a three-match series.
“It has been a great team, to be honest with the way they have played in the last three to four years,” Ganguly added.
The 47-year-old, who previously acted as the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), said he will lead the Indian cricket board the same way he led Team India.
“There will be no compromise on credibility. It will be a corruption-free and same-for-all BCCI, just as I led India,” he said.
Ganguly also brushed aside the need for dual captaincy in Team India, saying: “I don’t think this question arises. India is winning at the moment. They are probably the best team in the world.”
Ganguly, who is the first India cricketer after the Maharaja of Vizianagaram to become the BCCI President, cited examples of former BCCI presidents Jagmohan Dalmiya and N Srinivasan to explain how they supported him during his captaincy.
“Our focus is to make cricketers’ life easier. When I was the captain and Jagmohan Dalmiya was the president, I don’t remember that we asked for something and were ever refused.
“Virat is the captain now and we will have the same relations. Whatever he needs to help India play well, we will provide that to him. Kohli has taken the Indian team to a new level. We have been with him and we will be with him,” Ganguly added.
